Friday, 23 October 2009

PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is firm about the party having an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) which insiders see as a way of deposing president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang for leaders warmer towards a full-fledged opposition pact.

Nik Aziz said he was not bothered that some states were against the idea and that what was important to him was to save the party. “I will not change my mind on this,” the Kelantan mentri besar told reporters after opening a new mosque in Kampung Pasir Hor near here today.

The EGM is seen as the popular leader’s way to force Hadi to decide where the party’s fortunes lie despite the conservative line among its members.

While PAS has championed on its “PAS for All” slogan, there are elements who remain conservative and talk about banning beer sales and other punitive laws. Nik Aziz has blasted these leaders and has asked why Hadi has not stamped out such talk and quashed efforts to get closer to Umno.

Nik Aziz is virulently opposed to any form of cooperation with Umno as the Islamist party was part of Barisan Nasional formed in 1974 but quit later due to a clash of wills that led to PAS losing Kelantan in 1978. Read here for more

" PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has urged the party to hold a special muktamar (EGM)to weed out “problematic leaders” whom he said have made the party look inconsistent.

The statement was made to back a similar call by Dr Abdul Aziz Bari,who blamed the conservatives in the party for causing the embarrassing defeat in the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Abdul Aziz described Selangor PAS chief Datuk Hasan Ali — who attempted to ban the sale of beer and to empower mosque officials to act as moral police — as a liability to PR, urging the party to take disciplinary action against the state executive councillor.

“ In the Selangor dispute,PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was SILENT which led to some people in the party equating him with former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,” said Abdul Aziz in his commentary published in Malay tabloid Sinar Harian."Read here for more

Malaysians of all walks of life and ethno-religious backgrounds are now asking the same question:

Which is the real PAS?

The PAS that is represented by the moderate progressives made up of the likes of Husam Musa, Khalid Samad, Hatta Ramli, Dzulkefly Ahmad?

Or the PAS that is led by conservatives likeMustafa Ali, Hassan Ali, Nashruddin Mat Isa and the like?

Judging by the PAS general assembly elections earlier this year, it would seem that the moderates in PAS have been effectively marginalised within their own party.

We need to remember that the election results of 8 March 2008 (was) a call for change and consistency. PAS hopped on the same Pakatan Rakyat bandwagon with the promise of reform and democratisation, and it was on that basis that it received the support of the non-Muslims of the country.

For the umpteenth time, we repeat this claim:

The vote swing in 2008 was NOT an endorsement of an Islamic state to be slipped in through the back door.

Yet over the past one and a half years, what have we seen?

Hasan Ali’s unilateralism in Selangor has cost PAS the goodwill and trust it took the party years to cultivate, and his deafening silence over issues such as the death of Beng Hock and SELCAT lent the impression that the leaders of the Islamic party are more concerned about the sale of beer, courting couples and the bottom of Ms Beyonce Knowles than the political future of the country.

Furthermore some - though not all - of PAS’s leaders have also remained mum over recent controversies such as the ‘cow head’ protest in Selangor; and the treatment of minority groups such as the Ahmadis in Selangor as well.

So in the midst of all this, it is hardly surprising if the Malaysian public is now asking: ‘will the REAL PAS please stand up?’

PAS should remember that in the current climate of Malaysian politics, it too needs to change and reform with the times we live in. Gone are the days where empty Islamic rhetoric and promises of paradise will win PAS votes.

Moreover, PAS today has to live and work in a Malaysian society where the Malaysian electorate are more connected, clued-up and informed than ever before thanks to better communications and information technology.

One is reminded of the rumblings and grumblings in PAS in the early 2000s, when some of the more hot-headed members of the party were seen complaining about the non-Muslims and non-Malays of the country following the elections of 1999.

In his book UMNO Tidak Relevan (2000), the PAS writer Hussein Yaakub then wrote:

His points from 1 to 4 is exactly the sentiments of me and my colleagues (we are from Seremban, Negeri Sembilan).

I think YB Khalid and other more rational-minded leaders in PAS must pressure the Presiden and Naib Presiden of PAS to deal sternly with Hassan Ali.

But here is my two sen.

The Presiden and Naib Presiden are of the same mindset as Hassan Ali or are maybe on the same faction, so how could they ever sack Hassan Ali??

I think these three PAS leaders are the biggest problem for PAS as far as I am concerned and this is the sincere view of myself and surely other non-Malays.

In PKR, we have similar people like Zulkifli Noordin. Mark my words, if these people are not dealt with quickly and properly we will see the sad end of Pakatan Rakyat and this will be the greatest regret in the history of Malaysia we will all one day cry over.-Wong Kok FooFEEDBACK from Malaysiakini Readers.

X Roy: Nik Aziz Nik Mat is a man of honour. He has no need for a Datukship, he's Tok Guru and the Guru speaks. It is because of the likes of Nik Aziz that we, the NON-Muslims, voted PAS in. The way Abdul Hadi Awang and Hasan Ali are behaving will take the votes away from PAS at the next election.

Maggie Lim: Good job, Tok Guru. All parties should do the same, kick out the troublemakers. PKR has one too. Anwar should follow Nik Aziz's lead. Giving excuses not to take action will only make the rakyat angry and reject Pakatan Rakyat in the next elections.

Reality check: During the Bukit Gantang by-election in Perak, we have Indian and Chinese friends proudly carrying and displaying the green PAS flag. But after this Umno 'mole'Hasan Aliappeared, many like me have lost their taste for PAS .I think Hasan has reversed all the goodwill built up by the good PAS leaders. He has done much damage to PAS image. PAS should gift Hasan to Umno.

Ahmad Kamal:My respect for Nik Aziz has grown over the years since the reformasi in 1998. Nik Aziz and the late Hj Fadzil Noor are rare leaders in PAS and in the opposition history of the country. Fadzil Noor's speeches during reformasi were priceless. Nik Aziz has lived long enough to understand the political priorities of the day.

Habib Rak:I must congratulate Nik Aziz. He had taken effort to explain his objectives and why he is doing it. This is how all leaders should be. I shall look forward to a PAS EGM that will reassess some of it current leaders in particular. To all PAS members, I hope you shall vote for a united and strong Pakatan Rakyat.

Chandroosubra: This world is going through changes and this change is one of the Charles Darwin theory - evolution. So get rid of those who are not aligned to Pakatan.

Duke:Pakatan leaders, don't take non-Malay voters for granted. I can tell you that we are beginning to lose faith in you. It would be better to vote for Barisan Nasional than to see a PAS-Umno government.

Gk: There must be something seriously wrong with the PAS election system the last round where people deemed losers before balloting emerged winners. It is best that PAS get rid of these problematic leaders. These are 'white ants' that can eat up the strong foundation of PAS, and lead to the collapse of PAS and Pakatan Rakyat if they are not removed.

Md Imraz Muhammed Ikhbal: I couldn't echo Tok Guru any louder. Thorns within the flesh will have to be removed lest they shall become cancerous. A fresh line-up of leaders will inject a new blood into this Islamist party and perhaps rejuvenate it to manifest the true meaning of Islam - not the chauvinistic imposition of religious standards unto others but rather a democratic advocacy of righteousness and morality.

Pah Eng Cheong: Very good, PKR and DAP should also do likewise to sack the 'dead wood' in their camps. There are still a lot of 'loose cannons' in PAS that must also go. These are the kind of people that cause Pakatan to fall.

Louis: Nik Aziz, the most respected political leader in Malaysia. There is really no need to call for a PAS EGM. Just ask those three recalcitrant politicians to leave and join Umno.

2 comments:

last ge we voted pas not cos we like them..those big news of having non malays clubs..were just a hype to try look liberal and friendly...with some very obvios beer talks...those pas demanding to ban this and that..perhaps it the leader way of get himself visible.show he is satnding for islam...but the point is there are real issues like...corription, manhandling of people, investment policies are higher order. maybe these bigots dont know n not educated..so best way out talk cock! same time their national leader been acting so holified they cannot mix economics wityh islam..they may look ugly..whatever reason behind the scene, as long they have hassan ali n alis hassans...the non muslims will not try give them another chance.